Lawmakers renew push on abortion insurance bill

Democratic state lawmakers are renewing a push t to require insurers who cover maternity care - which Washington insurers are mandated to provide - to also pay for abortions.

They are championing the Reproductive Parity Act, which is meant to ensure that existing abortion coverage be preserved once new health insurance rules come into effect in 2014 under national health care reform.

The bill will receive a public hearing on Thursday in the Health Care and Wellness Committee of the Democratic-controlled House, which passed a similar measure a year ago.

Its fate will likely be determined in the Senate, however, which is controlled by a group of 23 Republicans and two Democrats calling itself the Majority Coalition Caucus.